Originally published February 27 2005
Identity theft on the rise in Britan, but citizens have ways to protect themselves
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
If you want to protect yourself from identity theft, you would be well advised to purchase a paper shredder and to distrust any website that asks you for your credit card number and PIN. If you have been a victim of identity theft, you should immediately report it to the authorities so that you can recover any damages.
Companies such as Capital Bank have recognised this public concern in their current ad campaign featuring impressionist Alastair McGowan.
Jemma Smith, of the Association for Payment Clearing Services, says: "The latest figures show a 66 per cent jump between 2003 and 2004 when �37m was lost by consumers to ID theft.
Worryingly, not only is identity theft one of the fastest-growing crimes in the UK, experts say we can also expect it to become much more widespread as chip and PIN cards work to reduce credit card fraud, leaving thieves to turn to ID theft to plug the gap.
The consequences of identity theft can be extremely distressing: the first that victims might know they have been compromised might be a letter from a creditor demanding money when, as far as they are concerned, they have never been in contact with the company; or the victim might go to a cash machine only to discover their current account has been emptied.
While under the British Banking Code you are protected against the financial losses of purchases and credit arising if your identity is stolen, unravelling the havoc caused by stolen identity can waste about 300 hours, according to the Home Office, once you have reported the crime and made calls and sent letters to various authorities and companies.
Identity Protection Plan was launched last year and offers policyholders access to staff who can advise on prevention of ID fraud, as well as annual credit records information and advice on reading it, protective registration, and up to �25,000 to cover legal costs, loss of earnings and personal assistance should you become a victim of ID theft.
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